Decorative lighting set



June 25, 1946. MOORE 2,402,766

DECORATIVE LIGHTING SET Filed March 8, 1944 g n 0mm AZ I Mow;

Patented June 25, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improved decorative lighting set for Christmas trees, and objects of the invention are to provide a lighting set of this kind which is simple, easy to apply to the tree and so constituted as to permit an orderly arrangement of a desired number of light bulbs at the most desirable points on the tree, with the bulbs wired in parallel so that the burning out of any bulb will not affect the remaining bulbs.

More specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, and the invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the drawing and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing a Christmas tree having applied thereto a lighting set embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the wire tapping clip of a pair of a branch leads operatively engaged with the insulated main or trunk leads of the lighting set.

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates a unitary main or trunk wiring element that consists of two insulated wires 6 and 6a whose insulating coverings l and 1a are joined together along adjacent sides as at 8, an attachment plug 9 to which corresponding ends of the wires 6 and 6a are connected, and a light bulb socket H] to which the other ends of said wires are connected.

The set also includes a plurality of branch wiring elements ll, each of which consists of a pair of insulated wires l2 and Her, a wire-tapping clip l3 embodying spring-closed jaws l4 and Ma provided with insulation piercing points I5 and I5a to which corresponding ends of the wires [2 and Ho are connected and having handles 16 and Ilia adapted to be pressed together for separating the jaws, and a light bulb socket I! to which the other ends of the wires I2 and l2a are connected. The wires of the branch wiring elements are diflerent lengths, so that the shortest branch elements are adapted to be placed near the top narrower portion of the tree, the next longer elements a little lower, and so on. As shown clearly in Figures 2 and 3, the point i5 is located inwardly of the point [5a, and the jaws have transverse ribs on their gripping faces between said points so as to fit the transverse contour of the opposite broad faces of the insulated wires of the trunk wiring element, thereby facilitating placement of the points so as to tap the respective ones of said wires when the clip is applied to said wires transversely thereof.

In use, the main wiring element 5 is disposed along the trunk of the tree, so that the socket I0 is located at the tip of the tree, and so that the lower end of the element may be extended laterally from the bottom of the tree for engaging the plug 9 in an outlet receptacle. The branch elements II are then placed at the desired elevations and clipped to the main element, being extended laterally from the latter to the desired side of the tree. Bulbs placed in the sockets Ill and I1 will then be connected in parallel in the lighting circuit so that if any bulb burns out, it will not affect the others. In this way, the light bulbs may be easily and quickly located where desired in a neat and orderly manner so as to present a pleasing and highly decorative appearance.

What I claim is:

In a decorative tree lighting set, a trunk wiring element including two parallel insulated wires having insulating coverings directly joined together along adjacent sides, and a branch wiring element including a pair of insulated wires and a wire-tapping clip including a pair of coacting spring-closed jaws adapted to grip the wires of the trunk wiring element therebetween and each having a transverse inwardly projecting insulation piercing point, one arranged inwardly of the other, for piercing the insulation and engaging the respective wires of the trunk wiring element, said jaws having two pairs of coacting transverse grooves for reception of the respective insulated wires of the trunk wiring element, the wires of the branch wiring element being connected to the respective insulation piercing points at the outer sides of the jaws.

THOMAS MOORE. 

